Alexander-Bradley Final Presser

Photos and report by Bob Ryder

Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander met the media today in Detroit for the final time prior to their fight at the Pontiac Silverdome on Saturday night. Not surprisingly both had little to say except that they were ready and anxious to show who is the boss at 140 pounds, feeling that time for talk is over.

Devon Alexander looking very loose and relaxed stated, “I’m at 120%, this is what I’ve been waiting for since I was seven years old.”

Tim Bradley was very serious throughout the entire proceedings and with his game face already on was very brief in his comments. “I’m ready to fight” was his simple statement.

Co-promoter Don King, never short of hyperbole and bombast, more than made up for whatever reticence the fighters had in expressing themselves. The seemingly ageless Don referenced the storied past sports in the Motor City and proclaimed that the fight would add to that legacy. “It’s history in the making!” King also called on the CEO’s of the Big Three automakers, newly elected Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing to attend the fight to demonstrate to all that the state and the city is back. Don pulled out all the stops summoning up the biblical story of Lazarus in comparing the Silverdome as “rising from the dead.”

Fellow promoter Gary Shaw sticking a little more to the task at hand, let those in attendance know that his fighter Bradley, “has bigger heart and bigger balls. I have the best 140 pounder.”

Alexander’s head trainer Kevin Cunningham stated that “it should be a dynamic fight”. His counterpart in the Bradley camp, Joel Diaz added, “both fighters are ready to give everything they got.”

HBO’s Kery Davis expressed how happy the network was to air this fight. Davis pointed out a little known fact that this fight was the first in 24 years between two undefeated Americans in which they would be competing to unify a title. Kudos were passed out as well to the rival promoters and each boxer and their camps in agreeing to put everything on the line for this contest. All agreed that this fight is great for boxing.

Addressing the status of ticket sales, which had been a hot topic in some previous press conferences, Grant Reeves representing the Silverdome took the mic. “We are at 60% of where we want it to be but we are expecting the traditional walk up traffic to be big.” Discussing the configuration of the ring inside the Silverdome, Reeves assured that it has been designed so there is “not a bad seat in the house.”

WBC super lightweight champion Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), of St. Louis, and WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), of Palm Springs, collide in “The Super Fight,” This Saturday! January 29, at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Their world title unification will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets, priced from $25-$400, can be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248) 338-2500 or online at www.silverdometickets.com. Alexander vs. Bradley is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing Promotions.